The Conquered Banner Newsletter of the Father A.J. Ryan San Diego Camp #302 Sons of Confederate Veterans VOLUME 23 NUMBER 3 May 2015 REUNION 2015 - BAKERSFIELD Camp Delegates of the California Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, gathered in the Southern San Joaquin Valley town of Bakersfield for this year’s reunion on March 14, 15, & 16. There, we conducted division business and enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow compatriots from throughout California. Not only is Bakersfield the home of the late country music legend, Buck Owens, but it is now becoming the favorite spot for the Division’s annual convention. In years past, the California Division has met twice in this city, and each time was well received by our host hotels with great meetings, good food and entertainment. This year, the Division met at the Double Tree Hilton and, once again, the hotel staff went all out in welcoming us and providing excellent service at both the business meeting and the evening banquet celebration. On behalf of Camp 302 and, I know, the other attending camps, we express our thanks and gratitude to outgoing Division Commander Farrell Cooley for hosting and organizing this year’s great event. As usual, I am proud of Camp 302’s participation at this event. Besides myself, LCDR Dave Sanders, 2nd LCDR Jim Millsap, Heritage Officer and Sergeant-at-Arms Steve Smith, Adjutant Roy Adair, and Compatriot Ira Lack attended. Due to ill health, Camp and Division Chaplain Ernie Powell was not able to attend. Ernie is doing well at present. In 2016, I hope to see more of our members at the Division Reunion. Camps answering to the Division Roll Call were: General George Blake Cosby, Camp 1627, Sacramento - Commander Allen Davis. Lt. General Wade Hampton, Camp 2013, Modesto - Commander Dan Shepherd. General Tyree Harris Bell, Camp 1804, Fresno - Commander Russell Snow. General Albert Sidney Johnston, Camp 2048, Bakersfield-Tehachapi - Commander Jon J. Fowler. Deaderick Doremus Thurmond, Camp 1631, Santa Barbara - Commander Barron T. Smith. General John Bell Hood, Camp 1208, Los Angeles - Commander John C. Roberts. Inland Empire, Camp 1742, Inland Empire - Commander John Smoley. Captain Cameron Erskine Thom, Camp 2007, Long Beach - Commander Fred Moore. Captain James Iredell Waddell, Camp 1770, Orange County - Commander Scott Price. Father A.J. Ryan, Camp 302, San Diego - Commander Jim Stephens. Camps not present were: The Stainless Banner, Camp 1440, San Jose - Commander Gary Waltrip. CSS Virginia, Camp 2062, Ventura County - Commander Ted Boyias. Friday the 14th saw division compatriots and guests gathering in Commander Cooley’s quarters for fried chicken, snacks of all kinds, along with plenty of soda pop and adult beverages. As always, it was good to reacquaint ourselves with our fellow compatriots, their friends and families from around the division. It was also good getting to meet those folks attending for the first time. The business meeting got under way with Chaplain Dave Bower delivering the Invocation. (Continued on Page Three) VOLUME 23 NUMBER 3 THE CONQUERED BANNER PAGE TWO International Headquarters Sons of Confederate Veterans P.O. Box 59 From the Editor Columbia, Tennessee 38402-0059 We look at our 2015 Division Reunion in Bakersfield, the 1-800-MY-DIXIE Lakeside Parade & we end the Sesquicentennial Observance. Salute to the Confederate Flag I salute the Confederate flag with affection, reverence and Minutes from the March 07, 2015 Camp Meeting undying devotion to the cause for which it stands. The meeting was held at the Boll Weevil Restaurant in Clairemont. The meeting was called to order at noon by Camp Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans Commander Jim Stephens. Thirteen members were in “To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit the attendance. Following the invocation by Chaplain Ernie Powell, vindication of the cause for which we fought. To your strength the Pledge of Allegiance and the Salute to the Confederate Flag, will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier’s good it was the Camp Commander’s pleasure to present a Certificate name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his of Appreciation to Jane Zoch for her outstanding contributions virtues, the perpetuation of those principles which he loved and to the Camp. It was also announced that the 2014 “Rebel of the which you love also, and the ideals which made him glorious Year” award went to Compatriot Stu Hoffman. This decision and which you also cherish.” was based on Stu’s outstanding dedication to the Camp and his Lt. General Stephen D. Lee almost super-human efforts to attend its functions while Newsletter suffering great personal hardship. Congratulations, Stu! The The Conquered Banner” is the official newsletter of the Treasurer’s report included comments by the Adjutant Camp and is published each odd-numbered month. Permission concerning the health of Compatriot James Taylor who recently to reprint material contained in the newsletter in freely given to donated $2,389.94 to the Camp. It was decided that the SCV, MOSB and UDC organizations. Commentary and articles Commander would appoint a committee to field suggestions on are solicited and should be mailed or e-mailed to the Newsletter the best way to utilize this money, keeping the purpose of our Editor. Deadline for submissions is the 15th of the preceding Camp as stated in our By-Laws as the guiding principle. Under month. Consideration of space may require editing. Old Business, it was announced that the current slate of Camp Meetings Officers had been reelected to serve for another two-year term. The camp meets the 2nd Saturday of each odd-numbered It was also reported that a check for $50.00 has been sent to the month at various locations which are announced in the Southern Legal Resource Center as previously voted on. Under newsletter. New Business, the Commander presented the new Camp 302 Correspondence patch. Of the thirty available, 19 were sold at $6.00 each. It is a Membership applications, dues renewals, changes of beautiful patch and was well received by all members in address and other business should be directed to the adjutant. attendance. The Commander announced that Deane Poole, Commander of SUVCW Camp 21, has reached an agreement Dues with the Mt. Hope Administration to waive fees for the 2015 Annual dues are billed each August and are $45.00 for Memorial Day Ceremony. We will deal with future years on a members. Dues include the Confederate Veteran magazine and case-by-case basis. It was announced that the San Diego SAR a newsletter. A red “X” in the following box indicates your dues Chapter does not have liability insurance and therefore cannot have not been received. { } fire their muskets at ceremonies. For this reason, since we are Camp officers not under the same restriction, we may be asked to provide the Commander Jim Stephens 21-gun salute at the Rosecrans Memorial Day Ceremony this 690 Mural St. year. Commander Stephens announced that WWII Veteran and Oceanside, CA 92057 POW Jim Reily has accepted his invitation to speak at a future Phone: (760) 940-8506 meeting. The upcoming Division reunion will include seven E-mail: [email protected] members from our camp. Camp 302 volunteered to perform LCDR Dave Sanders Color Guard on this occasion. The Convention Camp-of-the – nd 2 LCDR Jim Millsap Year score sheet was reviewed to insure nothing was left out. Adjutant/Treasurer Roy Adair The Western Days Parade has been set for April 18th. The 334 “J” Avenue participant list is not yet published. Compatriot Will Tisch is Coronado, CA 92118 confident the camp will be included. College-level awards were Phone: (619) 435-5235 discussed and it was announced that Mike Schooling would be E-mail: [email protected] responsible for the Army award and Jim Stephens would Chaplains Ernie Powell & Gary Henson coordinate the Navy and Air Force award. As per Compatriot Sergeant-At-Arms Steve Smith James Taylor’s wishes, the three remaining reproduction Civil Historian Gary Henson War pistols were donated to the Camp and put up for sale. The Newsletter Editors Jim & Megan Stephens proceeds will go the Camp treasury. Compatriots Steve Smith 690 Mural Street and Dave Sanders are looking into Camp Pendleton for this Oceanside, CA 92057 year’s “Turkey Shoot,” providing the camp can supply a Phone: (760) 940-8506 certified Black Powder Instructor (more on this later). The next E-mail: [email protected] VMMC Color Guard will be on April 25 and our May 9 Camp Meeting will be held at Duffwood in Oceanside. The meeting was called to a close with Benediction by Chaplain Powell. VOLUME 23 NUMBER 3 THE CONQUERED BANNER PAGE THREE (Reunion 2015, Continued from Page One) After the pledges, the Reading of the Charge and the Introduction by Commander Farrell Cooley, Adjutant Vern Padgett conducted the Camp Roll Call. Sylvia Cardenas – Officer in Charge of the California Order of the Confederate Rose, and Robyn Adair – California Division President of the United Daughters of the Confederacy presented their respective reports. Robyn talked briefly about the problems that exist with the former Museum of the Confederacy (now called The American Civil War Museum, located in Richmond, Virginia) and the lack of cooperation with the current museum director. She also discussed the disposition of Confederate artifacts belonging to the various Southern states and the museums relocation at The Tredegar Iron Works. The Division Camps presented their reports and, as always, I was pleased to state all of Camp 302’s accomplishments over the previous year since the last convention. We made a good showing – we came in second place. Camp 1742, Inland Empire, won the honors again this year as “Camp of the Year.” Commander Cooley announced to those gathered that the SCV’s Commander-in-Chief, Charles Kelly Barrows, who was slated to attend the reunion, could not make it due to a family crisis.